Independence native one of 32 American Rhodes Scholars

Monday

Nov 24, 2008 at 12:01 AMNov 24, 2008 at 9:17 PM

An Independence native has been selected to become a 2009 Rhodes Scholar. Lindsey M. Whorton, a graduate of Truman High School, is one of 32 Americans selected from interviews that were conducted from across the country.

Kelly Evenson

An Independence native has been selected to become a 2009 Rhodes Scholar.

Lindsey M. Whorton, a graduate of Truman High School, is one of 32 Americans selected from interviews that were conducted from across the country. She is a fifth-year senior at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, with a double major in English and secondary education.

In addition to academics, Whorton was a member of the women’s basketball team, serving as captain. She was named a first-team academic All-American and first team all-conference player at Drake.

The criteria to become a Rhodes Scholar includes high academic achievement, integrity of character, a spirit of unselfishness, respect for others, potential for leadership and physical vigor.

Scholars are chosen in a two-stage process. Each candidate must first be endorsed by their college or university. Selection committees then invite the strongest applicants to go through interviews. In addition to the Americans that were selected, scholars were chosen from other countries including Australia, Bermuda, Canada, Germany, Indian, Jamaica, Kenya, Zimbabwe and Zambia. Approximately 80 scholars are selected each year worldwide.

The Rhodes Scholar program was created in 1902 by the will of Cecil Rhodes, who was a British philanthropist and African colonial pioneer. The first class of American Rhodes Scholars entered Oxford in 1904.The Rhodes Scholarships provide all expenses for two to three years of study at the University of Oxford in England and can also allow for funding in some instances up to four years.

Whorton is Drake’s first Rhodes Scholar in 82 years. Her parents are Doug and Beth Whorton of Independence.